Uggla Duckling Spared

In a very competitive All-Star Classic, the AL tied the game at 2 late on a J.D. Drew homer, and has a bases loaded no-out situation in the tenth after consecutive errors by Florida second baseman Dan Uggla.

Drew lined a two-out homer into the right field porch at Yankee Stadium in the 7th, and Jonathan Papelbon was touched up for an unearned run in the 8th. Mariano Rivera came into the game with a man on in the ninth and pitched an inning and two-thirds scoreless for the AL.

Grady Sizemore grounded into a force out at home, followed by a repeat by Evan Longoria, who had tied the game at three in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out ground rule double.

Justin Morneau faces Aaron Cook, who forced a weak tapper to shortstop which Miguel Tejada turns into a great play at first nailing Morneau by half a step.

The AL plays into the 11th without any bench players, with Terry Francona having exhausted his oversized bench already. The AL is also running out of pitchers, left with Kazmir on short rest, Sherrill (Baltimore) and Soria (KC).

The pregame ceremonies were the highlight of the game, including a number of the All-Time greats including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Brooks and Frank Robinson, and Yogi Berra. If I could have picked a few boyhood stars who weren't present, I'd include Sandy Koufax, an introvert among extroverts, and Carl Yastrzemski.

This would be my 'boyhood All-Star Team'

C - Johnny Bench
1B - Willie McCovey
2B - Joe Morgan
SS - Dave Concepcion
3B - Brooks Robinson
LF - Carl Yastrzemski
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Hank Aaron (honorable mention Roberto Clemente)
RHP - Bob Gibson (honorable mention to Jim Palmer, Luis Tiant, Catfish Hunter)
LHP - Sandy Koufax
Closer-Rollie Fingers (honorable mention Dick Radatz)

Well, it's getting late and it's put up or shut down for the AL and me...